“Figured you could use an afternoon delight.”
He barks out a laugh as a few farmhands enter the building. They freeze when they see us, but Jett encourages them to carry on. Our time has ended, and I need to get on with my day.
“See you at home?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I finish up.”
I nod as I step away. I don’t get far before I look over my shoulder, biting back a smile as our eyes meet. He looks happy. Satiated. He looks like mine.
“I love you.”
“Love you, too, Whiskey.”
There was no way I was going back to the office to work. Not after what happened in the barn. I decided to head to the farmhouse and help Grams get ready for lunch. Stepping in through the front door, I hear a soap opera coming from the living room. Gramps is no doubt in his recliner, snoring away. I glance at the clock on the wall and hope I’m not too late.
“Grams?” I call as I step farther into the hall.
“Wren?”
The kitchen smells like heaven–something savory and warm. Comforting. Grams looks up from the stove, her face lighting up.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
I chuckle. “Need help?”
She snorts a laugh. “From you? I’d like to keep the farmhouse standing.”
“Rude,” I groan. “I left a towel on the burner one time.One time. And no one trusts me in the kitchen. The cottage is still standing.”
“That’s a miracle,” Dad adds as he comes in through the breezeway.
“Hey,” I complain, but he shrugs.
“Smells great, Mary. I have a few things to check on, and I’ll be in shortly.”
“Take your time. I’m going to catch up with my girl.”
I reach for a glass and pour myself some of Grams’s homemade sweet tea. She brews her own tea with the sun and adds just the right amount of sugar without making it too sweet. Sliding out a bar stool, I perch myself on one as I watch her mill about the kitchen.
We fall into easy conversation. Nothing too heavy, which is exactly what I need. Just small-town gossip and things we’ve seen on The Bay Buzz.
The back door opens as boots stomp across the hardwood floor, voices trailing in through the breezeway.
“Just in time,” Grams calls out as she finishes mashing potatoes.
I smile as I pass out hearty paper plates to all the men who work hard to keep Drummond Farms afloat. It’s not nearly as many men as Riggsby Cattle relies on, but enough to fill the kitchen, sunroom, and have men scattered in different barns.
We’re nearing the end of the line when the front door slams shut, startling me. I clench the paper plates, nearly bending them in half as my stomach sinks and my heart rate skyrockets.Every head turns in the direction of the hallway, waiting to see who will emerge.
Nate storms in, dressed in his Marshall County Sheriff uniform, his eyes scanning the room before locking on me. Dread seeps through my veins with the realization thathe knows. This wasn’t how he was supposed to find out. I was finally getting the courage to tell them and someone else told him.
“Why is Davis Baldwin asking me if my sister has had any more unwanted guests at the cottage?” he demands. “When I told him I had no idea what he was talking about, he asked if there had been any issues with your ex-fiancé?”
The air leaves my lungs. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t want it to be here, in front of everyone.
“Answer me, Wren.”
My throat tightens as I glance at my dad. His gaze sears into mine, and I know there’s no hiding now. I swallow hard as I look toward Grams and Gramps, both standing at the island, hands in the air with serving utensils.
